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Is the Uniontown Otpust schedule available yet? Is there going to be only one, traditionally-sung, Church Slavonic Prostopinije Sluzba Bozhe Liturgia on Sunday morning (9:00 am)? Will WEDO 810 AM broadcast that particular Church Slavonic Divine Liturgy?

Ungcsertezs (Christijane, proslavl'ajme Cistuju D'jivu...)

Ung--

This Liturgy is traditionally broadcast? Is there anyway to get a recording of it for those of us in the hinterlands of the Church? Do you have recordings from prior years? I'd love to get my hands on one!

John K

John,

You will have to contact WEDO 810 FM White Oak, PA
(Mckeesport).

They actually haven't broadcasted live from Mt. Macrina for many years now, and that is why I asked the question.

When +Bp. John Bilock was in charge of the Radio Apostlate, that 9:00 am Sunday Church Slavonic liturgy was a live broadcast on WEDO 810 FM. It is a shame that the no longer do live broadcasts from Mt. Macrina Otpust.

Ungcsertezs

You can download a pdf file of the early schedule here:

http://www.sistersofstbasil.org/pilgrimage.jsp

--tim

Sunday September 4, 2005 at 9 a.m. the Divine Liturgy in Slavonic.
Monday September 5, 2005 7 a.m. is the Slavonic Divine Liturgy.
Is there any place to stay down there druing the Pilgrimage or does rooming get pretty booked up?
Anyone else plan on going?

It's amazing how "crowded" the 9:00 AM Slavonic Divine Liturgy can get which tells me that many, especially the older Mt. Macrina pilgrims, still prefer some liturgies and Marian hymns be sung in the Church Slavonic language. My "Njan'o" is 88 and no longer wants to go to "Otpust" anymore and I think it is due to the fact that almost no Slavonic is allowed (No Slavonic for you!)during the main weekend liturgies. Even the "paraliturgical" Marian hymns that were once sung both in Slavonic and English are now English-only.

I know that the Ruthenian bishops and priests want an "English-Only" Otpust, but why not accomodate the few thousand elderly pilgrims that still faithfully attend "Otpust" and use a wee bit more Slavonic?

Ungcsertez

I had a wonderful experience at Otpust in 2004. I was in a hotel waiting to for the shuttle to Mt St Macrina and as I was waiting about 4 older women came up and waited with me. We got on the bus together and they said that they were going to the Slovanic liturgy. I replied that I was going to the Slovanic liturgy as well. They asked my age and at the time i was 16 (am now 17) and they commented on how wonderful and refreshing it was that someone my age still enjoys going to the Slovanic liturgy. They even invited me to sit with them which I did. I know that Slovanic shouldn't be used every day or ever Sunday in a parish that doesn't understand it but I really enjoy going to an entirely Slovanic liturgy once a year and alot of other people do too. As long as there is a priest to celebrate the liturgy, a cantor to sing, and people who show up I hope the 9:oo am Slovanic liturgy will still be at Otpust when I am 70 or 80.

-Katie g

"Even the "paraliturgical" Marian hymns that were once sung both in Slavonic and English are now English-only."

Come on U-C. They still sing plenty of hymns in Slavonic. In fact they often follow an English hymn with the Slavonic version.

Fr. Deacon Lance

It appears that the Aug. 6 conference in Whiting may well have more reclamation work to do than they do in developing new things. Why has so much been lost or thrown over board? A broadcast like this nationwide would be wonderful for a byzantine network.

Dan L

Deacon Lance,

I don't remember any Slavonic,(not one stanza, phrase or "paraliturgical" Marian hymn) at the Sunday 4:00 pm Pontifical-Hierarchical Divine Liturgy which I attended last year. Does anyone have it on tape?

Ungcsertezs

Is anyone here going? Where do you stay? Uniontown probably has limited hotel space. Is parking easy, etc..?

Piroh,

Since attendance isn't as large as it use to be, there are hotel and motel rooms in and around Uniontown and Connellsville, but usually they will be booked for Otpust weekend a year in advance. The Sisters still have lodging on site, but those spaces are limited as well. I would countact Mt. Macrina and ask if lodging in the domitory/barrack areas area sill available. If you like camping out, there are RV and tent ac comodations at the bus parking lot(Old Race Track) area.

S'Bohom!

Ungcsertezs

yeah I figured if I go I might be stuck camping. As long as I can shower somewhere it'll be alright.
How many people go? a couple hundred, more or less?

Piroh,

In years past, the number of pilgrims was staggering. The late Rev. Msgr. Basil Shereghy wrote in his phamphlet entitled "Fifth Years of Piety, a History of the Uniontown Pilgrimages" the following:

("If we consider that the yearly attendance averages between twenty-five and thirty thousand (in 50's and 60's that attendance averaged 75,000), then it is possible that the two millionth pilgrim passed through the gates of Mt. Saint Macrina this year (1985).")

Over the last twenty years, attendance has dwindled. There are less numbers (elderly pilgrims passing on and a lesser number of younger pilgrims taking their place) of pilgrims these days. There seems to be too many competing secular activities during Labor Day weekend and so Otpust has sufferred greatly. I would estimate that the Sunday crowd (usually the biggest attendance day of the entire pilgrimage weekend) to be approximately 2500-5000. When I attend the Sunday 4:00 PM Pontifical-Hierarchical Divine Litury, the entire hill side of the main outdoor altar area (now under a recently-built wooden cupola)no longer is filled, just the lower part closest to the altar. Anyone who has attended Otpust over the last 10-15 years will tell you that the crowds are much smaller. So I would urge ALL WHO CAN ATTEND, PLEASE DO SO!!

Ungcsertezs

U-C,

I am refering to the whole weekend, not a single Liturgy. During the processions, before and after many of the Liturgies, Slavonic hymns are sung.

Fr. Deacon Lance